The commissioning of the Noida International Airport (NIA) at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh stands among India’s most significant infrastructure milestones in recent years. Currently operational with an initial passenger handling capacity of 12 million passengers per annum (mppa), the greenfield airport is set to redefine air connectivity for the National Capital Region (NCR) and western Uttar Pradesh.
Project overview
NIA’s master plan envisages phased expansion over the decades, in line with the increasing passenger and cargo demand.
The airport is being developed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, through a public-private partnership model. It is being developed in four phases. Phase I is designed to handle 12 mppa, further expanding the capacity to 30 mppa in Phase II, 50 mppa in Phase III and 70 mppa upon completion of Phase IV. Phase I of the airport, developed at a total investment of around Rs 112 billion, was inaugurated on March 28, 2026. It is spread across approximately 1,334 hectares of land and includes an integrated passenger terminal, a runway, cargo handling facilities, aircraft parking stands and associated airside infrastructure. The groundbreaking ceremony, which was held on November 25, 2021, marked the formal commencement of construction. Ahead of its inauguration, the airport achieved several key operational milestones. These included the calibration of the instrument landing system (ILS) and precision approach path indicator (PAPI) in October 2024, followed by a successful validation flight in December 2024. The airport received its aerodrome license in March 2026, and extensive operational readiness, activation and transition (ORAT) trials were completed in June 2026. Post the inauguration, commercial services officially commenced on June 15, 2026, with IndiGo operating the inaugural flight from Lucknow.
The airport is initially catering to domestic operations, with international services expected to commence subsequently. The second phase will include the construction of an additional runway and the development of a dedicated maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hub across approximately 1,365 hectares. The third phase will involve the acquisition of around 2,053 hectares across 14 villages to accommodate another runway, service taxiways, aircraft hangars and aviation-related industrial facilities.
Designed for the future
The airport’s integrated planning approach extends beyond aviation infrastructure. Commercial facilities, logistics parks, etc. have been incorporated into the master plan.
Cargo infrastructure and logistics
Recognising the growing importance of air cargo in India’s expanding economy, NIA features a dedicated cargo infrastructure developed by Air India SATS (AISATS). The facility incorporates IATA-recommended e-freight systems that enable paperless documentation, real-time shipment tracking and faster cargo processing. Complementing the cargo terminal is an integrated warehousing and logistics zone.
The initial phase of the airport has the capacity to handle approximately 200,000 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) of cargo, with future expansion planned to increase the capacity to 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa). Cargo operations commenced on June 17, 2026, with the first cargo flight operated by Afcom Holdings between Chennai and Noida. The AISATS multimodal cargo hub handled the domestic freighter flight.
The airport is also expanding its aviation support ecosystem. In March 2026, NIA and Akasa Air announced a strategic partnership to establish the airline’s first MRO facility at the airport. The facility is expected to strengthen India’s aircraft maintenance capabilities and reduce dependence on overseas maintenance services.
Digital-first approach
The airport is working towards delivering a seamless, technology-enabled travel experience from arrival at the terminal through to boarding. The passenger processing ecosystem is powered by Amadeus, providing common-use check-in systems, self-service kiosks, baggage reconciliation, cloud-hosted airport operations and boarding management solutions. Integration with DigiYatra enables biometric-based passenger processing, allowing travellers to move through security and boarding checkpoints with minimal physical interaction while significantly reducing waiting times. Complementing these passenger-facing technologies is SITA’s Airport Management System, which automates airport-wide operational management.
Technology also remains a key enabler behind the scenes to drive efficiency. Kyndryl manages the airport’s information technology infrastructure under a 24×7 support framework, ensuring uninterrupted availability of mission-critical systems. Meanwhile, Tech Mahindra operates the integrated network operations centre and security operations centre, providing continuous monitoring of digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and operational performance. The airport has also partnered with Anlon Technology Solutions to deploy India’s first indigenously developed runway rubber removal machine for ensuring timely removal of accumulated rubber deposits from aircraft landings.
Sustainability embedded into infrastructure
Sustainability has been integrated across all stages of the airport’s development process.One of the project’s most notable achievements is becoming India’s first large-scale infrastructure development to have incorporated limestone calcined clay cement (LC3), an innovative low-carbon alternative to conventional cement. The use of LC3 significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with construction while maintaining structural performance. Energy efficiency has also been prioritised through the deployment of Panitek Smart Energy’s intelligent lighting solution. Equipped with motion sensors and adaptive dimming technology, the system provides illumination only where and when it is required, thereby reducing electricity consumption without compromising on safety. Further, integrated environmental sensors continuously monitor air quality by measuring particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, temperature and humidity, therefore enabling data-driven decision-making.
Additionally, NIA has adopted an extensive renewable energy strategy to support its long-term net zero ambitions. In November 2024, the airport signed two power purchase agreements with Tata Power covering wind and solar power supply. The airport will receive 10.8 MW of wind power while simultaneously developing a 13 MW onsite solar power plant, enabling a substantial proportion of its electricity demand to be met through renewable energy sources. Complementing these efforts, Statiq is developing extensive electric vehicle charging infrastructure for airside operations, supporting airport vehicles, concessionaires and electric ground support equipment. Collectively, these initiatives position NIA among India’s most environmentally responsible aviation infrastructure projects.
Fuel and utility infrastructure
To support the airport’s operational ecosystem, critical fuel and gas infrastructure is being developed. Indian Oil Skytanking Limited was awarded a 30-year concession for designing, building and operating fuel infrastructure for the airport. This includes a multi-user fuel farm, fuel storage tanks and an underground hydrant system that connects all aircraft stands with fuel pipelines. Indian Oil Corporation Limited will operate fuel stations at three locations within the airport premises. Further, Indraprastha Gas Limited is establishing two compressed natural gas stations. The partnership includes the development of piped natural gas infrastructure for food and beverage outlets, airport lounges, kitchens and ancillary facilities. In addition, NIA has partnered with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited to lay a 34 km aviation turbine fuel pipeline, of which approximately 1.2 km lies within the airport premises. The pipeline will operate on a common-carriage basis, ensuring reliable and efficient fuel supply to aircraft operations.
Seamless multimodal connectivity
A defining feature of NIA is its emphasis on multimodal connectivity. The airport has been planned as an integrated mobility hub offering passengers multiple options for first-mile and last-mile connectivity. Road connectivity is being strengthened through the airport’s strategic location on the Yamuna Expressway, along with planned road links and interchanges to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and other regional highways, improving access across Delhi-NCR as well as western and central India. In parallel, the proposed high-capacity public transport links, including the Ghaziabad-Noida-Jewar Regional Rapid Transit System corridor, are expected to further enhance regional accessibility.
Passengers will have access to airport taxis, app-based mobility services, rental cars, premium electric vehicles, shuttle buses and intercity bus services. To support sustainable mobility, Mahindra Logistics Mobility operates Alyte, an all-electric, chauffeur-driven taxi fleet. Uber, Ola and Rapido have set up booths inside the terminal for smooth passenger travel. Mann Fleet Partners has also deployed 51 vehicles at the airport. Regional connectivity has been further strengthened through a partnership with redBus, announced in June 2026, enabling direct intercity bus services to destinations including Agra, Mathura, Lucknow, Dehradun and Chandigarh. The service incorporates GPS-enabled live tracking, digital ticketing and round-the-clock customer support, providing passengers with a seamless transition between air and road travel. Additional collaborations with the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation and Haryana Roadways have further expanded the airport’s multimodal transport network.
The way forward
While Phase I establishes the airport’s operational foundation, the master plan extends well beyond its initial capacity. Future phases will progressively expand passenger terminals, runways, and cargo infrastructure. Preparations for the next stage of development are already under way. Beyond aviation, the airport is expected to become the anchor for a broader economic ecosystem along the Yamuna Expressway corridor. Improved connectivity is likely to stimulate industrial investment, promote export-oriented manufacturing, strengthen logistics and warehousing, improve tourism, and create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities. As commercial activity expands around the airport, the surrounding region is expected to witness significant residential, industrial and commercial development, supporting Uttar Pradesh’s long-term economic ambitions.
